Harmonica



Aug. 21, 1951 J. R. TATE 2,565,100

HARMONICA Filed April 12, l949- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

WW WW1 V619 SM' J. R. TATE HARMONICA Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1949 Mrs mve vs Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARMONICA John R. Tate, Whittier, Calif.

Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 87,034

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates broadly to the art of wind instruments or harmonicas and in its more specific aspects it relates to harmonicas or mouth organs upon which half tones or sharps and flats may be played; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be the preferred embodiments and mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

' The conventional harmonica or mouth organ is tuned in full tones and is not capable of producing chromatic sound effects such as half tones or sharps and flats. Obviously this constitutes a limitation on the musical possibilities of these instruments and restricts the range or musical scope thereof. Many attempts have heretofore been made to produce an instrument of this character upon which sharps and flats may be played, however such harmonicas of which I am aware are very diflicult and complicated to play, or are otherwise impractical in their operational characteristics for they involve complicated working parts or structural features impairing the lasting and operational qualities thereof. Certain harmonicas which have been designed to produce the desired chromatic effects may only be played by an expert and are therefor unsuitable for general use.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce chromatic tone effects.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce chromatic effects and may be played by amateur musicians as well as by expert musicians.

In designing a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce half tones such as sharps and flats I have provided means therein wherein the volume of air flowing past the reeds and into or out of the reed slots may be varied. However it is not desirable to completely choke off any one or more of such slots, and it is therefore a purpose of my invention to provide a harmonica or the like musical instrument in which half tones may be played by varying the volume of air flowing into or out of the reed slots and to provide means preventing the complete choking off of any one or more of such reed slots.

A further object of one form of my invention is to provide a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce chromatic effects, such as half tones, without requiring any moving parts.

Another object of one form of my invention is to provide a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce half tones and is so constructed that such half tones will result from a particular positioning of the lips of the player relative to certain parts of the unique instrument.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a harmonica or the like musical instrument of a material which is sensitive to vibrations resulting from the vibrations of the reeds.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of means embedded in the vibration sensitive material of which the harmonica is constructed which will pick up and transmit such vibrations for their amplification.

It is also an object of one form of my invention to provide an attachment for the conventional harmonica or the like instrument so that half tones may be played on such conventional harmonica.

A further object of my invention is to provide a half tone producing attachment for the conventional harmonica which may be attached thereto with facility and without changing the structure of the instrument.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a half tone producing attachment for a conventional harmonica which is economical to manufacture and is endowed with durable qualities.

A further feature of, my invention resides in the production of a harmonica or the like instrument upon which half tones may be produced, which will be as economical to manufacture as the conventional harmonica which is incapable of producing chromatic effects or half tones.

Another characteristic of my invention consists in the provision of a half tone producing harmonica which does not have any parts protruding beyond the normal body portion thereof.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a harmonica or the like instrument which is capable ofproducing half tones, which is durable and has the lasting qualities of the conventional harmonica.

A further purpose of one form of my invention is to provide a harmonica or the like instrument which will produce tremolo as well as half tones or sharps and flats.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others which will be apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a further form of my invention showing the attachment in position on a harmonica.

Fig. '7 is a view taken on the line 1'! of Fig, 6.

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the vibration pickup and amplification means combined with a harmonica.

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of the various elements of the harmonica and attachment and amplifying means of Fig. 6, the parts being in separated positions.

In Figures 1 through 5 of the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention which consists generally of a harmonica, mouth organ or the like wind musical instrument which is so constructed that half tones may be produced thereon by positioning of the lips in a particular manner relative to certain parts of the instrument, I have used the numeral I. to designate in its entirety the stock of the instrument. This stock may be constructed of Wood, plastic or any other desirable material. As is conventional in instruments .of this type the stock is formed to provide two end blocks 3, a longitudinally extending base 5v and spaced ribs 1 extending upwardly from the base. The spaced ribs 1 define a single-row of wind cells 9 which extend from the base to the top of the instrument. While I show ten of such .windcells it is to be understood that I may provide a greater or less number of such cells. In playing the instrument the operator either blows his breath into the wind cells or draws air therefrom as is customary in playing the conventional harmonica.

Fastened in any desirable manner along each side of the stock are the usual reed plates II provided with the customary reed slots I3 over which reeds l5 extend. As isusual the reeds and their complementary slots are of decreasing size from one end of the instrument to the other. thus the reed at the right end of the instrument, as viewed in the drawing, is the smallest and the reed at the left end of the instrument, as viewed in the drawing, is the largest reed in the instrument. 7

The instrument further includes a pair of side plates designated generally by the numeral IT. A side plate I! is attached to thereed plate H at each side of the instrument as by screws 19 or in any other suitable manner. The side plates are preferably formed of a plastic material having vibration responsive qualities. The side plates I! are each formed with a reduced thickness upper or front portion or section 2| and a lower or rear portionor section 23: of greater thickness than the front. section. The upper edge of section 23 on each side plate; is

4 formed to provide an inclined shoulder 25 which provides a lip guide for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The front section 21 of each side plate is provided with a series of wind or air slots 21 which extend completely and transversely through the side plates relative to the length thereof. A slot 2'! is provided in each side plate for each slot in the reed plates, and thus there is a slot for each reed. The slots 27 therefore permit air to be exhausted from the air cells past the reeds and out of the instrument, or to be drawn into the instrument.

The lower or rear thickened section 23 of each plate is formed with air ducts 29 which are a continuation of the slots 21, One of such air ducts being provided for each slot 2! in each side plate. The holes or air ducts 29 extend downwardly to points adjacent to but removed from the lower edges of the plates as at 3|, and the slots 2'! extend from points adjacent to but downwardly spaced from the upper edges of the plates, as at 33. It will thus be appreciated that I have provided slots extending all, the way through the front portion of the sideplates, and

have provided interior. air ducts within the rear thickened sections of the side plates, the air ducts 29 not extending through the side surfaces of the side plates. Thus the rear thickened portion 23 is transversely imperforate.

Each air duct 29 opens at its lower end into a relatively small hole 33 which extends through the bottom of the thickened rear section 23 of the side plates. As will be apparent from consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawings the air holes 33 become progressively smaller as the size of the reeds decreases. Thus the largest hole is formed at the bottom of the air duct serving'the largestreed while the smallest air hole is at the bottom of the air duct serving the smallest reed. It will also be appreciated from consideration of the drawings that all of the air holes 33 are of less air carrying capacity than that of the air duct which they serve. Thus, the air holes will not be able to handle the volume of air capable of being handled by its particular or complementary air duct.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates in detail the air duct slots and. air holes of the instrument. When the player of the instrument is playing conventionally without producing half tones it will be apparent that the breath may either be blown into or drawn out of the air cells 9, through the reeds l5, and slots I3 in the reed plates II and through slots 27 in the front portions 2| of the side plates I1. During such operation some air will, of course, pass through the air ducts 29 and air holes 33 of the rear portions 23 of the side plates. When so played the harmonica will produce the full tones of the usual harmonica and no chromatic efiects will result.

When it is desired to produce chromatic or half tones on the instrument it is necessary to close off any one or more of slots 2'! in the front reduced thickness portion of the side plates, so that air may be neither exhausted therethrough or drawn into the instrument through these slots. When this is done the air will be forced toflow through the air ducts 29 in the rear thickened portion of the side plates and a relatively small volume of this air will be forced through the reduced size air holes 33. It will be understood that the air holes will only be able to handle a small volume of the total air in the air ducts and thus a choking or cutting off of the air will result. However the air ducts flow of air will not be completely choked off due to the air holes 33 which will permit some movement or flowing of air through the air ducts 29. When the slots 21 ar'e closed off so that air is forced into and through the air ducts and air' holes as just described the instrument willpr'oduce the desired half tones or chromatic effects.

In order to produce this half tone result by stopping flow of air through the slots 21 the operator or player of the instrument merely places his lips over the slots complementary to the notes he wishes to sharp or flat, bringing his lips down to the inclined shoulders or lip guides 25 dividing the front and rear sections of the side plates. When the player does this the flow of air through those slots 21 which are covered by the lips will be halted and air will flow into air ducts 29 and a reduced volume of such air will flow through the air holes 33 and either into or out of the instrument, dependent upon whether the player is inhaling or exhaling in the operation of the harmonica. Such reduced flow of air into or out of the instrument and hence past the reeds will produce the muted or half tone effect desired.

Half tones may therefore be produced when the player of the harmonica places his lips over any one or more of slots 21 and shoulder 25 functions as a guide, indicating to the player that his lips are properly positioned.

It will be recognized that I have devised a harmonica or the like musical instrument which will produce half tones without necessitating any moving or other operating parts. All that is necessary is for the player to position his lips in a particular position relative to certain elements of the instrument. I have also provided an arrangement whereby none of the air passages leading to the reeds will be completely choked off so as to prevent the proper chromatic effects which the instrument is designed to produce.

In Figs. 6 through 11 of the drawings I have illustrated a further form of my invention which is designed to produce chromatic effects such as sharps and flats. In this form of my invention I have provided an attachment which is adapted to be used on the conventional harmonica so as to produce these highly desirable chromatic effects.

In this form of my invention I have used the same reference numerals as those hereinbefore used to designate similar parts. The basic part or section of this form of my invention consists of the usual stock I, and blocks 3, ribs 1 and a row of air cells 9. Reed plates H having slots and reeds are provided in the customary manner. I preferably provide a plastic case into which this basic structure of my invention is adapted to rest. This case is of generally U shape and is designated in its entirety by the numeral 35. The case is formed with oppositely disposed spaced upstanding side plates 31 having a series of air slots 39 formed therein complementary to the slots and reeds in the basic structure of the instrument. The sides 21 of the U-shaped case are connected at their lower edges by a base or bottom 41 and the basic structure is nested in the case and may be secured therein by means of screws 43 or the like. It will be evident that the air cells 9 of the basic structure are uppermost when the structure is nested in the case and will be in position for blowing into since the upper end of the case is open.

The slots 39 which are provided in each side of the case extend from points adjacent to but downwardly removed from the top edges of the sides, and the slots extend downwardly toward but removed from the bottom edges of the sides of the case. A groove 45 extends to the bottom edges of the sides from the lower end of each slot 39 into which it opens. These grooves 45 are cut into the exterior surface of the sides and as will be hereinafter pointed out they receive air from the slots under certain operating conditions. The grooves are of less air carrying capacity than the slots.

In order to close one or more of the slots 39 in the sides of the case against the passage of air therethrough so as to produce chromatic effects on the harmonica I have provided a damping means for removable attachment to the harmonica Which I have just described. The damping means comprises a pair of closure or damping plates 41 preferably of plastic material having some degree of flexibility. The plates 41 are of substantially the same dimensions as the sides 31 of the case so that they will fit thereover and in certain operative positions cover the same.

The damping plates 41 are maintained in spaced apart operative positions by means of bridging elements designated generally by the numeral 49 which consist of inverted U shaped bridges including legs 5| connected at the upper ends thereof by bases 53. A pair of bridging elements 49 is used to connect the plates 41 together, one bridging element being at each end of the plates. The plates are fastened in any desirable manner to the inner surfaces of the legs 5|, or the plates and the bridging elements may be integrally formed. The bridging elements are preferably formed of a plastic material and are flexible so that the plates and the legs upon which they are mounted may be flexed inwardly toward one another when it is desired to play half tones on the harmonica to which the damping means is attached. The damping means is removably attached to the basic structure of the harmonica by means of screws 55 which extend through the bases 53 and into the end blocks 3 of said basic structure.

The attachment is operatively associated with the harmonica by screwing the screws 55 into the end blocks 3 so that a damping plate 41 extends over each side 31 of the case 35. The bridging elements are so formed that in normal positions the plates will be held away from the plates 31 so that air may pass through the slots 39 therein. When it is desired to produce half tones the plates 41 are inwardly flexed until they are in contact with the side plates 31 thereby closing selected slots 39 against the passage of air. It will be understood that the damping plates 41 are also constructed of a material of some flexibility in order that said plates may be flexed so that only one end or portions of the lengths of the plates will be in position abutting against the sides 31 of the case so that selected slots 39, and not all the slots need be closed against the passage of air to produce the half tones or sharps and flats. When certain of the slots are closed against the passage of air by the damping plates 41 the reeds will not be completely choked off as a reduced volume of air will pass through the complementary grooves 45 formed in the sides 31 of the case. The passage of this reduced volume of air past the reeds will of course produce the desired sharp and fiat notes. The slots 45 are of 7 decreasing size as the size of the reeds decrease as in the preferred form of my invention.

Tremolo may be produced on an instrument having my attachment combined therewith by reciprocating as rapidly as possible one or both of plates 41 toward and from the body of the instrument.

I have also provided means for incorporation in a harmonica whereby-the sound may be picked up and amplified. While I have only disclosed this pickup and amplification means combined with the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 through 11 of the drawings it is to be clearly understood that it is my intention to combine it with the preferred form of my invention when desired.

The pickup means for the harmonica may comprise a crystal 51 which is embedded in a slot 59 provided therefor in one end of the plastic base 4| of the case 35. The crystal is tightly contained in the slot in a tight fit with the plastic bottom of the case. Lead Wires 6| extend from the crystal 5'! and are connected to aplug structure 63 which in turn is in electrical contact with a cable 65. A plate 6'! is attached to the end of the case 35 and the plug is attached to and supported thereby. The cable 65 leads to an amplifier set 69- and loud speaker II. In Fig. 10 of the drawings I have illustrated schematically the harmonica with the pickup and amplifier combined therewith and in this view I have designated the harmonica by the numeral 73.

When the pickup and amplification means is combined with the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that the crystal 5'! may be embedded in the bottom of one of the plastic side plates Ii, or the bottom of the stock may be formed of plastic and the crystal embedded therein.

By this arrangement I have provided means for picking up and amplifying the musical sounds emanating from a harmonica and I have enhanced the pickup qualities of the organization by making the case 35 of a plastic sensitive to sound vibrations so that they will be carried to the crystal embedded in such plastic. The value of this pickup and amplification arrangement in auditoriums and the like will be appreciated.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the front section only provided with slots extending therethrough in communication with said wind cells, whereby closing of one or more selected slots by the player of the instrument will produce half tones.

2. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, each of said side plates having a front section and a rear section, said front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof, the slots being in communication with said wind cells and said rear sections being transversely imperforate relative to the length of the side plates, whereby closing of one or more selected slots by theplayer of the instrument will produce half tones.

3. A musical instrument including a central stock portion including wind cells,' a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, each of said side plates having a front section and a rear section, said front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof, the slots in communication with said Wind cells, and said rear sections being transversely imperforatc relative to the length of the side plates andmeans in said rear sections for passage to and from the instrument of a reduced volume of air relative to the air flow capacity of the slots when one or more selected slots are closed by the player of the instrument to produce half tones.

4. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, each of said side plates having a front section and a rear section, the rear sections being of greater thickness than the front sections, said front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof and the slots being in communication with said Wind cells and said rear sections being transversely imperforate relative to the length of the side plates, and means in said rear sections for passage to and from the instrument of a reduced volume of air relative to the air flow capacity of the slots when one or more selected slots are closed by the player of the instrument to produce half tones.

5. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections and a lip guide between said sections, the front sections only provided with slots extending therethrough in communication with said wind cells, whereby closing of one or more of said slots by the application of the players lips on the lip guides will produce half tones.

6. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the rear sections being of greater thickness than the front sections, an inclined shoulder joining said sections and providing a lip guide, the front sections only provided with slots extending therethrough in communication with said wind cells, whereby closing of one or more slots by the application of the player's lips on the lip guides will produce half tones.

7. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the front section only provided with slots extending therethrough in communication with said wind cells,- and the rear sections of the side plates having air outlets therethrough in communication withthe cured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the rear section being of greater thickness than the front section, and the front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof, the slots being in communication with th wind cells, and the rear sections being transversely imperforate relative to the length of the side plates and having air ducts provided at one end with outlets in the bottom edges of the side plates and at the other end in communication with the slots, the outlets being of less air carrying capacity than the slots whereby half tones will be played when one or more selected slots are closed by the player of the instrument.

9. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the rear section being of greater thickness than the front section and a lip guide between the front and rear sections, the front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof, the slots being in communication with the wind cells, and the rear sections being transversely imperforate relative to the length of the side plates and having 'air ducts provided at one end with outlets in the bottom edges of the side plates and at the other end in communication with the slots, the outlets being of less air carrying capacity than the slots whereby half tones will be played by closing of one or more slots by the application of the player's lips on the lip guides.

10. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds of progressively greater size mounted on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having front and rear sections, the front sections having slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the length thereof, in communication with the wind cells, a slot being provided for each reed, and the rear sections being transversely imperforate relative to the length of the side plates and having air ducts provided at one end with outlets in the bottom edges of the side plates and each duct at its other end in communication with a slot, the outlets being of progressively greater air capacity in conformity with the size of the complementary reed and all of the outlets being of less air carrying capacity than the slots whereby half tones may be played when one or more selected slots are closed by the player of the instrument.

11. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the Wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, said side plates having slots extending therethrough in communication with said Wind cells and one or more selected slots adapted to be closed by the player of the instrument against the passage of air therethrough, and said side plates having air outlets therein one of the outlets being in com munication with each slot and each outlet being of less air carrying capacity than its complementary slot for permitting the passage of a reduced volume of air to and from the instrument when selected slots are closed for producing half tones.

12. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, and the side plates having slots, extending therethrough transversely relative to the length of the side plates and in communication with the wind cells, and flexible means supported on said stock for actuation to close one or more selected slots against the passage of air therethrough to produce half tones on 'the instrument.

13. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, and the side plates having slots extending therethrough transversely relative to the length of the side plates and in communication with the wind cells and means for closing one or more selected slots including a pair of dampers in normal position spaced from said side plates, and flexible bridging elements supporting said dampers, whereby said dampers may be moved into position abutting against the side plates and closing one or more selected slots to produce half tones.

14. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, and the side plates having slots extending therethrough transversely relative to the length of the side plates and in communication with the wind cells, and means for closing one or more selected slots including a damper for each side plate in normal position spaced from the side plate, and supporting means for said dampers including a pair of flexible bridging elements mounted on the instrument and having depending legs fixed to the dampers, whereby said dampers may be moved into position abutting against the side plates and closing one or more selected slots to I produce half tones.

15. A musical instrument including a central stock portion having Wind cells therein, a reed plate secured to each side of the stock and a series of reeds on each plate in communication with the wind cells, a pair of side plates, one secured to each of said reed plates, and the side plates having slots extending therethrough transversely relative to the length of the side plates and in communication with the wind cells, and means for closing one or more selected slots including a flexible damper for each side plate in normal position spaced from the side plate, and supporting means for said dampers including a pair of flexible bridging elements mounted on the instrument and having depending legs fixed 11 to the dampers, whereby said dampers may be moved into position abutting against the side plates and closing one or more selected slots to produce half tones, and means for permitting a reduced volume of air to flow to and from the 5 slots when they are closed by the dampers.

JOHN R. TATE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dusinberre Dec. 9, 1924 Le Clair Jan. 14, 1941 Zaccagnino Aug. 22, 1944 Ruflino Jan. 18, 1949 Babicky Feb. 1, 1949 Minshall Feb. 22, 1949 

